Automatic fire-lighter



(No Model.) 2. Sheets-Sheet 1.

DE F. R. GOURVOISIER. AUTOMATIC FIRE LIGHTER.

No. 557,254. Patented M55. 31, 1896.

Illlll 5 1 ANDREW EGRAKAMPIJOTOUTNQWASHINGIONDQ UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

DE FORREST R. OOURVOISIER, OF PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-LIGHTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,254, dated March31, 1896.

Application filed July 20, 1895. Serial No. 556,606. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DE FORREST R. COUR- VOISIER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Pine Bluff, in the county of Jefferson and State ofArkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFire-Lighting Clock Attachments; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact de-.

scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theartto which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of automaticfire-lighters in which an alarm-clock is used in connection with anigniting device to be placed below or in close proximity to astove-grate; and it has for its prime object to render such devicesthoroughly practicable and safe, which is an important desideratum, tosimplify the construction and general effi ciency, and guard against anyaccident which may possibly arise from the improper lighting of thematches.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved alarm-clockwhich at a predetermined time will sound an alarm and simultaneouslyactuate the fire-lighting mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully understoodfrom the followingdescription and claims when taken in connection withthe annexed drawings, in which Figure l is an elevation of my improvedclock with my fire-lighting .device connected therewith, the latterbeing shown in section. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are detail views of portionsof the mechanismof the clock. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the fire-lightingdevice, showing a match in position. Fig. 6 is an end eleva tion of thesame. Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical transverse section of the clock,and Fig. Sis a section in the plane indicated by the line a; a: of Fig.7.

Referring by letters andfigures to said 5, to which the hour-hand 6 isattached, and the said gear-Wheel4, together with the sleeve 5 and hands6 and 3, is rotated by the, spring 7 (which has the winding-arbor 8)through the medium of an ordinary time-traimwhich is only partiallyillustrated.

In addition to the gear-wheel 4, the sleeve 5- is provided with a pinion9, and the said gear-wheel and pinion mesh with a pinion 10 andgear-wheel 11, respectively, on a shaft 12, whereby it will be seen thatwhen the timetrain is in motion the shaft 12 will be rotated at aspeedcorresponding to that of the sleeve 5. The shaft 12 is also providedwith a fixed pinion 13, and to the left of the shaft 12 is a shaft 12,which is I provided with a loose spring-barrel 14, which contains and isdesigned to be rotated by the spring 15, as presen tly described. Saidspring-barrel 14 is provided with gear-teeth, as shown, and the saidgear-teeth are designed to mesh with a pinion 16 on shaft 17, which alsocarries a star-Wheel 18 for the engagement of the escapementfork of thebell-hammer 19, as better illustrated in Fig. 8. The bell-hammer19isdesigned to strike the bell 20, which is preferably located on theoutside of the clock-casing, and said hammer is provided with aprojection 21, the purpose of which will be presently explained.

F indicates a transverse shaft or arbor. This shaft or arbor carries theloosely-mounted gear-wheel 22, which meshes with pinion 13 on shaft 12,and is provided on the opposite sides of its hub with projections 23,the block 24, which is keyed or feathered on the shaft at one side ofthe wheel 22, and is provided in its inner side with a suitable recess25, which preferably has its inner wallbeveled and is connected to orbears against a springarm 50, which normally engages and holds theprojection 21 of the hammer 19, the block 26, which is fixed to turnwith and slide on the shaft at the side of the wheel 22, opposite to theblock 24, and is provided in its inner side with a recess 25, and thecoiled spring 27. The said coiled spring bears at its. inner end againstthe forked end of a lever 28, which is interposed between said springand the block 26, for a purpose presently described.

G indicates a tape, of steel or other suitable material, which extendsthrough the opening in the clock-casing and is designed to be .connectedwith the igniting or fire-lighting device presently described, and Eindicates the drum to which said tape is connected and upon which it isdesigned to be wound. This drum E is arranged within the clock-casingand is designed to be rotated by the coiled spring 30, which itcontains, as shown, and it is provided on one side with a circularseries of beveled teeth 31 for the engagement of the dog 32 of thespring-pressed lever 33, which is designed to normally hold the drumagainst movement and bears against the lever 28, as shown.

The shaft F is held against casual rotation by the split friction-sleeveof a disk 37, and it has its end squared and is provided with anindicator 38, which serves, in conjunction with a suitable dial 39, apurpose presently described.

In using my improved clock, it it is desired to sound the alarm andlight the fire at, say, seven oclock, the shaft F is turned by asuitable key until the hand or indicator 38 points to the figure 7 onthe dial 39. hen this is done, the blocks 24 26 will be turned so as tocarry their recesses 25 away from the projections 23 of the wheel 22.Now it will be seen that when in the course of time the wheel 22 ismoved by the time mechanism sufficiently far to bringits projections 23opposite the recesses 25 in blocks 24 26 the spring 27 will force thesaid blocks 24 and 26 and the wheel 22 in the direction indicated byarrow in Fig. 7. The movement of the block 24 will carry the arm 50 outof engagement with the projection 21, so as to release the escapementand enable the spring 15 to ring the bell, while the movement of theblock 26 will permit movement of the lever 28 and a consequent movementof the lever 33. This will release the drum E, and the spring of thesame will rotate it so as to wind up the tape G.

The springs 7 and 15 may be wound up in the ordinary manner by keysapplied to their arbors, while the spring 30 is wound up by drawing thetape G outwardly to connect it to the igniting device.

H indicates the igniting or fire-lighting device. This device is hereshown as comprising a base-plate I, which may be of brass or othersuitable metal, and for the sake of convenience in handling it while hotit is provided with a recess p, similar to that of a stove -lid toreceive a lifter. Rising from this base are two uprights J, although itis possible that in some cases one might be used. On these uprights isjournaled a wheel, which is preferably composed of two circular disks K,of tin or sheet metal, suitably secured together. These disks areroughened, corrugated, or otherwise adapted on their sides adjacent totheir peripheries or at other suitable points to scratch or ignite amatch. In some cases a single disk might be used, and it would then benecessary to roughen or cor- -be used instead of two.

rugate one side, as a single match may also This wheel, which is shownas quite narrow, is provided with a broad bearing for the tape G, whichis preferably composed of steel, and when the wheel is made of tin orthe like the bearing maybe formed by turning a flange laterally on eachdisk, as shown at q, and the wheel is also cut out in its periphery, asshown at 4', fora purpose which Will presently appear, and is providedin its periphery with a pin or stud s to receive an eye in one end ofthe tape.

Rising from the base I are two posts L, which are designed to receiveand hold the matches, the catch for the wheel, and also a quantity ofpaper or other inflammable material. These posts, which rise to analtitude equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the wheel,are each provided at their upper ends with pins or points t to receivepaper or the like, and at a suitable distance from their upper endsthese posts are slotted, as shown at u, to receive matches, a matchbeing indicated by the letter U in Fig. 5.

M indicates the catch. This catch may be composed of an angular piece ofsheet metal or other suitable material, journaled at or near its angularportion on a pintle-rod N, and a coiled spring P surrounds the rod so asto keep the catch normally in an operative position. This catch isprovided with a hole Q, which is disposed in a position to receive thepins in the wheel when the latter has been turned to ignite the matches.

In order to securely hold the matches in their seats, I provide springsR, which are here shown as composed of wire taking into the posts L atone end and having a loop S and their free ends carried obliquely, so asto intersect the path of the holes u and engage the matches so as topress the latter against the wheel and prevent said matches from beingdrawn out of their seats during operation. From the construction shown,however, it will be seen that should the matches be drawn from theirseats by the force of the wheel they will be thrown into the ash-pit orbelow the grate.

In operation, the match or matches having been placed in the holes ofthe posts, and the igniting device placed in the proper position, withthe clock-case placed at a suitable distance from the stove, the tape isdrawn out of the clock-case and connected to stud s of wheel K. Paper orother inflammable ma terial having been placed on the points i, thedevice is ready for operation. When the drum E in the clock-case isreleased, as before described, it will forcibly draw in the tape, whichwill turn the wheel until the pin thereon engages the catch M, when thecutaway portion R of the wheel will be brought just below the match ormatches and the paper or inflammable material above the same, so as tooffer no obstruction to the burning. The frictional contact of thematches ITO on the wheel will of course cause them to light, which inturn will light the paper and the kindling in the stove-grate.

It will be seen that as thevlighting mec anism is readily detachablefrom the clock box or case the clock may be used as an ordinary clockand also as an alarm-clock.

lVhile I have described very specifically and in detail the variousparts in the exact construction shown, yet I do not wish to beunderstood as limiting myself to the precise construction andcombination of parts which I have illustrated, as I am aware that manyof them might be changed without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is I 1. In an automaticfire-lighting apparatus, the combination of a clock comprising timemechanism, a shaft F, a wheel loosely mounted on said shaft and gearedwith the time mechanism and having a. projection 23, a block fixed toturn with and slide on the shaft F, and having a recess to receive theprojection of the wheel, a spring, a lever interposed between saidspring and the slidable block, a

spring-actuated drum, a lever for normally holding the drum againstmovement and engaging the first-named lever, a fire-igniting device, anda tape connected to the drum and adapted to be connected to thefire-igniting device, substantially as specified.

2. In an automatic alarm and fire-lighting apparatus, the combination ofa clock comprising a casing, a bell, a hammer adapted to engage thebell, and having an escapementfork and also having a projection 21, ashaft carrying a star-wheel, engaging the escapement-fork, a spring forrotating said shaft, a

time mechanism, a shaft F, a wheel loosely mounted on said shaft andgeared with the time mechanism and having projections 23, a block 24,fixed to turn with and slide on the shaft F, o and having a recess toreceive one of the projections of the wheel, an arm engaging theprojection 21, of escapement and adapted to be moved by the block 24, ablock 26, fixed to turn with and slide on the shaft 1 and having arecess to receive one of the projections of the Wheel, a spring, a leverinterposed between said spring and the slidable block 26, aspring-actuated drum, a lever for normally holding the drum againstmovement and engaging the first-named lever, a fire-igniting device, anda tape connected to the drum and adapted to be connected to thefire-lighting device,substantia1ly as specified.

3. The base-plate, having standards rising therefrom, the wheel havingroughened or corrugated sides, and composed of sheet metal, with acut-out portion in its periphery, and also having the lateral flangesand a pin,

and journaled on said standards,'the posts rising from the base-plateand having slots to receive matches, and also having pins or points ontheir upper ends to receive, paper or the like, the springs for pressingthe matches against the wheel, and holding said matches in their seats,the spring-catch adapted to engage the pin on the wheel, and a suitablemeans for turning said wheel, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' DE FORREST R. COURVOISIER. Witnesses e J B. MENARD, S. G. SEABROOK.

